Slip joints



May l2, 1959 F. E Bus, SR

SLIP JOINTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 14, 1955 o TTM snm ATTRNEY May 12, 1959 F. l.. LE Bus, SR 2,886,289

SLIP JOINTs/ Filed Jan. 14, 1955 v s sheets-sheen 2 IN VEN TOR.

` 8 BY FLLQBUS, 5ft

F194. l ATrob/vssyl] l May l2, 1959 F. L.LE BUS, SR 2,886,289

SLIP JOINTS Filed Jan. 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

By EL m34/5,5m

Arron/VES iff-fd Se@ Pete This"invention relates to improvements in rotary` drillingjequi'pment, and moreparticularly, but not by way of v limitation, to a1 Vcombined slip and safety `joint fork a rotary drilling string utilized in-drilling or coringl of oil weil bores. `This application is a continuation-in-part of applicants ,co-pending application Serial No. 443,598 led 'tlly 1 5, 1954, and entitled Slip Joint for Drill String.

in the rotary drilling of oil wells, particularly deep bores, the drill bitis secured on the lower endl 'of a drillingstring '.Which is rotated at the surface rof the well throughthe drilling rig which includesv a rotary table and cooperating lkelly therewith. The kelly is'usually a square shaped elongated member disposed in an aperture in the rotary table for movement downwardly therethrough. As the drill string proceeds downwardly, `it is necessary to Vperiodically add extrajoints vrof drill pipe `formaling addi- '..tiohl @whims-.the Weill bore, .When this .is necessary, the kelly is usually moved upwardly above the apertured rotary table, and the additional'joint of pipeis inserted :between `thel ,-lelly anda previous top section of the drill pipe'whereupon the Vdrilling Vstring is again; lowered to begin ther'drlling Operation @In .the Present available,

eduipment"for inserting an additionaljoint of pipe, itis 'usually necessary to raise'the drill bit, or core bitfrom `the'-l':otto` n`1"'of the Vwell an equal distance that the drill string is Iraised sothat the extra section or joint of pipe maybe ,added to the string.

As greater ilreserves are being sought, wellsare being drilled to increasingly. greater depths with resultinggreater hazardsfand expenses; For this reason a driller `desires the greatest amount'of informationavailable relating to the vsub-surfar-:e formations encountered in a .well b ore. Y

' without lifting lThe; usnal'method of obtaining the desired datafis the wllknownbrocedreof Cdrins thefjrmatipu. Thiwgrs beffl 'Whih iS nentllly used t9 drill through the .termation, drills' over a diameter sectionof' the formation andv retains a .solid unit thereof within the Acore barrel.

vThis solid unit or core sample isjmechanjcally recovered arid'bruglit to the surface o fl'the'well Ifor. careful analysis. The-drilling of .a well to a, depthof ten thousand feetk or overrv'vith-V a corebarrel on the bottom of the drill pipe is a cestlyproject,and'lfor this reasonit isdesired to obtain maximumresultswith lthe corebarrel. As aresult, the f f u seof'diamon'd studdedjcorelbits has become generally accepted intheindustry. lThese diamondbits are vquite expensive,fand every elortisrnade toprolong theiruseful life.

called' ay rock bit .whichy rotates' on the bottom yof thebone hole. These rocl bits are Yprovided. with hardenedteeth 'to grind up "the formation, and during thedrilling'of hard formations, suoni as granite and chert, many'` of the hard Most'weus are fined with@ wen known arming roei bttomfof' thefwell las heretofore mentioned, however,

2,886,289 vPatented May 1 2, 195i) these floating Ahazards settle down into the bore hole, and

'when the bit is lowered ,to continue the drilling or coring operation the pellets and fbits' of hard teeth are trapped `under jthe cutting surface of the bit. When rotation of Jthe bit is continued, the broken voli hardened portions under the drill or cor'ebit will start a rolling action that causes considerable damage to the bit, particularly the expensive diamond vcorergbit, so that in a very short time it lbecomes practically useless'.

This invention is generallyconcerned with an improved telescopic slip joint forfutilization in a drilling string when it is necessary to addadditionalsections of pipe to the drill string foracontinued drilling operation, and particularly a slipv joint that will permit insertion of the additional section of drill pipe without lifting the drilling bit or core bit olf the bottom of the well bore. It is also well known in rotary drilling that telescopic sections have beenuSedin'the drill strings in order to limit the weight applied to the drill bitso that drilling or coring bits would [not be subject to enormous weights of the entire drill "in deep bores with long and heavy strings of drill pipe.

The driller will usually `vary the weight of the drill string actingupon the drill bit by utilization of the braking apparatus at the surface ofthe well, but this practiceis subjectrto-the normal inaccuracy-of the human element. With predetermined' knowledge of the weight of the core barrel, `the desired number of drill collarsand a partial section ofthe-slip joint thenecessary-weightfor an efficient and regulated penetration mayv be readily calculated and maintained. f l

'It is` an importantobject of this invention toprovide an improved slip joint for drilling strings which provides for the addition of extra sectionsof pipe in the drillingstring the drilling bit from the bottom of the well bore. 'j

And still anotherobject ofthis invention is to provide aslip joints cooperating with the drilling string in such a manner that the weight of all elements of the drilling string below theslip joint and including part of the slip joint lmay be` easily predetermined and calculated 4in order to make up thenecessary weight required for the drill bit to penetrate the formation in a more efficient and regulated speed of penetration in tothe formation being drilled.

Andstill another object of 'this invention is to provide an improved`slip joint which will permit insertion of an additional jointo'f rdrill pipe without removal vof the drill bit from the well bore and yet permit operation of the drill bit when the4 slip joint is in an expanded open position. l

Aridlstill: `another object of this invention is to provide animproved slip joint cooperating with a drilling string infsuch a manner as to permit any variation in weight as req'uired in any drillingl operation to penetrate formations being drilled in an eliicientmanner.

nd'still another object 'of invention is to provide an 'improved' slipjoint which will permit a hydrostatic 'head' to #build up therein, thus'precluding the possibility of collapse of the" unit duringl high pressure conditions caused bydrillingl depths.

And still'another object ofthisinvention is to provide a'slipi and safety'jointfor `drill* strings which is simple, practical and ee'noinica'l in its operation.

i Other objects-andadvantages ofthe inventionwillbe evident""fro`rnth`e -follo'wingde'tailed description, read in 3 conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a broken vertical sectional elevational View with certain parts in elevation for clarity depicting the upper portion of the novel slip joint.

Figure lA is a view similar to Fig. 1 of the lower portion of the novel slip joint interposed in a drill string at the beginning of a drilling operation. n

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of the cooperating spline members of the slip joint.

Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the upper portion of the slip joint with the control spline in a position to provide for a lesser weight on the drill bit.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 showing the upper vportion of the slip joint with the control spline moving slightly off or in a parting direction during expanding operation of the telescopic procedure.

Figure 6 is a view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Figure 7 is a view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Figure 8 is a view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of the upper portion of the slip joint showing a separated position of the control spline when it is necessary to add an additional joint of pipe.

Figure 10 is a perspective View of one side of the control grooves.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Fig, k10 showing the opposite side of the control groove.

Figure l2 is a broken elevational view with certain parts in section of the lower portion of a drill string and depicting the drill bit in a raised position from the bottom of the bore hole.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Figs. 1 and lA, reference character 5 indicates generally a slip joint adapted to be interposed in a drill string 6 in a well bore` 7, the bottom of which is indicated in Figs. lA and l2. A rotary Kelly member (not shown) cooperates with a rotary table `(not shown) normally utilized with a drilling rig (not shown) at'the surface of the well. The rotary'table connects with the top string of drill pipe (not shown) which extends into the well bore for connection at 9 with an upper sub member 11. The sub member 11 is connected through complementary threads 13 with a downwardly extending cylindrical housing 15 in turn cooperating with a clutch member 17 connected at 18 with an intermediate cylindrical housing 19 to provide structural housings for the slip joint 5. The sleeve 19 is connected by complementary threads 20 to a lower sub member 21 in turn connected to the drill sectiony 6 having a core barrel 22 and any suitable type of core drill 24 disposed at the lower end thereof for drilling the bottom 26 of the well bore 7. A suitable safety joint 8 is interposed between the drill string 6 and the barrel 22 to permit removal of the complete core when the outer barrel is stuck, and is the usual practice in the industry.

The sleeve member 15 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced male spline or clutch lug members 30 integral with the inner periphery of thev sleeve 15, and preferably comprises two `diametrically spaced lugs 30 around the circumference, but not limited thereto. It will be understood that any practical number of lugs 30 may be utilized kas desired. The apertured member 17 is provided with an upstanding reduced neck portion, or sleeve 32 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal grooves 34. The grooves are female splines cooperating with the male splines 30 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. The sleeve 32 is further provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal grooves 36 spaced from the top 38 of the sleeve 32 and extending upwardly from a horizontal recess 40 in communication with the groove 34. The groove 36 ispprovided with .ber 17 during the lowering'operation.

a shoulder 42 at its uppermost end and a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinal shoulders 43 and 45 for a purpose as will hereinafter be set forth. The female splines 34 are provided with a tapered portion 44 as clearly shown in Fig. 2 in order to facilitate lassociation of the lugs 30 with the groove 34.

A shouldered portion 4 8 on the sleeve 17 as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is provided with a recessed portion 50 in which is disposed a latch member 52 supported by a helical spring 54 anchored in the bottom of the recess 50. A cover Vplate 55 is suitably secured to the sleeve 17 to maintain the latch 52 and spring 54 within the recess 50. The helical spring 54 urges the latch member 52 upwardly into communication with a plurality of complementary notches or teeth 56 provided in the lower rim 58 of the sleeve member 15. A plurality of circumferentially spaced latch members 52, preferably two, but not limited thereto, cooperate lbetween the rim 58 and the shoulderedv portion 48 to maintain a locking engagement between the sleeve 15 and the sleeve 17 in a manner as will hereinafter be set forth. y f Y Thesplined portions 30 and 34 provide for a'telescoping arrangement of the slip joint, but the lugs 30 are clutch locked in recess 36 to prevent any unwarranted telescopic disposition during a lowering of the slip joint into the bore. The spring urged latch members 52 cooperate with the teeth 56 to preclude accidental left hand rotation of the sleeve 15 with respect to the mem- If the lugs 30 should accidentally turn out of the groove 36 and enter the slot 34 while the slip joint 5 is being lowered into the well bore, the combined weight of the drill collars 6, safety joint 8, core barrel 22 and bit 24 may cause these connected sections to drop within the well and -cause inoperable damage.

The sub member 11 has a threaded aperture 60 in alignment with a centrally disposed longitudinal aperture (not shown) in the sleeve 32 and the member 17. A circulating and telescoping stem 62 extends through the apertures and is connected at 60 to the sub 11 and extends downwardly through the bores to a point slightly above the sub 21. The lower end of the stem 62 is provided with a slot or groove 64(Fig. 1A) adapted toy cooperate with a suitable tool (not shown) for tightening and loosening of the stem 62 therein. An outwardly extending shoulder 65 is provided on the outer periphery of the stern 62 and is spaced slightlyabove the slot 64 for receiving a substantially cup shaped packer 66, preferably made of rubber, or the like, but not limited thereto. A thimble shaped seat 68 is 4disposed adjacent the top of the packer 66 and supports a spacer bushing 7 0. A second packer 72, similar vto the packer 66, is disposed atop the spacer 70 and supports a pair of thimble seats 73 and 74. An inverted packer 75 rests in the seat 74 and is adapted to receive a spacer bushing 76 similar to the spacer 70. kA clutch member 78 is disposed immediately above the plurality of packers and is adapted to cooperate with a complementary clutch member 80 provided on the lower end of theclutch member 17 (Figs. 1, 4 and 9). Thebody of the member 78 is provided with a solid piston portion .79 (Fig. 1) for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. The sleeve 19 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially disposed apertures 82y disposed substantially adjacent the clutch member 80 for a purpose as will hereinafter be set forth.

Prior to disposition of the slip joint unit 5 in the well bore, manual pressure is exerted on the top of the sleeve 15 to force it downward against the shoulder 48, thereby pressing the latch members 52 downward against the action of the spring 54. In this downward position the splines 30 are at the bottom lof the grooves 34 and a clockwise or right hand movement will place the splines 30 `into communication with the grooves 36. As

ta-,assenti :joint-:t while it-isbeing lowered Vinto* the Well bore.

v:suitable thrust-bearing 84 'is disposed around the upper.portioir.o,f the Lstem-62 and is interposed between th'e upper sublll and the upwardly .extending vsleeve B2 of-thelmember 17for a purpose as will hereinafter lbes'etforth'" Operation .In `assemblyfa continued right hand rotation of the drill stem drives thegeolmplete assembly downwardly, and 'asthe bit 26 penetrates the formation the splines or groove -`36vgill drive-:off or rnovevertically V,downward relative .to themale Ilugs 30. It wlbe noted that the male lugs -30 andthe grooves 3 6 have a limited. length 4of drive contact, .approximately two feet, but not limited thereto. 4'Iliisis necessary so that the operator will have to lfeed the rotary ykelly(not shown) ldownwardafter approximately-.two feet ofcored hole in the bore 7 has been made;` A continuoursifeed of the kelly must be made as -the core 'bitzpenetrates rthe formation further. From the predetermined weight calculation, the speed -of penetraf :tionis regulated to the speedvof' drilling and lthe operator .will have tol lower thekelly vat approximately the same .rate as .thercore bit 24'penetrates the formation to pre- -ventfthe lugs-30 fromfengaging the shoulderI 42 and reducing the weight on the bit.rk Because the clutch mem- :bersare shorter-)than the ordinary kelly, it will conntinually feedv lafter a certain normal penetration hasbeen `made lin order toadd additional sections of drill pipe lwithout ,raising the rdrill, or coreybit, off the'bottorn of the wellbore.` Itis desirable notto raise the. Core bit, so' thatpellets, rocks, and the like', cannot fall under the l bit beforetlowering it back to the bottom, as clearly inzdicated f in '.Fig. 12. Consequently, the operator `must lower .thefkelly atapproximately the same rate of speed 'as the: core head penetratesthefOrmatOn and assoon as :thekellyapproaches'the bottom of. its feed, then itis de sired tofadd an. extra joint of pipe tocontinue the drilling operation. .The slip jointv is then operated as'follows, and -shownin Fig-9; 1 L

' zWhe'nlit isd'esiredto add |an eXtra joint of pipe to con- ..tnuez-.the"drilling operation; pressure is exerted on the -topgof sleeve-in forceitl downward. against the shoulder 48 and the sleeve 15 is rotated counter-clockwise with sufficient force to overcome thespringrurged latch 52 so that the "lug is moved" outof the groove'36 and into communicatioriwitlithe .Wgioove 34. In 'this'positiom the Ilets. at@ lnnved vertaal!! newer@ to assure disengagement th@ grooves 2 34V 'multaneous movement of @einem .62 inwardly. liinains tfilntn'h membefns 78fin contact-with the c lutch d gstllm Infthis upvnardymoveinien it willbe-appaient'that thedrill bfitf24 is not moved, .-bu'tl remains stationary' on the bottom 26 of the well bore 17,. lthfsfaszsnring that wno rocks, boulders, pellets of elicit, r-thelik ',wllhf'all int'the'bore 7 beneath *the bit l24 l, fY thev 'llingop-e-raitiifn.m It is] not Vnecessary that the clutchldogsdg and B'ib'inconnected relation, but may be so asshowriin'Fig."9`"whenit is `desired to rotate the drill string for any purpose as may be desired, such as a slightly stuck bit, or the like.

Upon the adding of a section of drill pipe, the lug 30 is again placed in a drive position within the slot 36,

and it will be apparent that right hand rotation of the sleeve 15 will bring the lug 30 into co-ntact with the longitudinal shoulder 43 to communicate the rotative movement to the drill sections therebelow, thus permitting a smooth penetration into the formation. Similarly, a left hand rotation will bring the lug 30 into contact with the shoulder 45 to communicate the rotative motion to the lower sections, thereby permitting a backing oif, or the nd cause'costlydmage tothecoreIbit upon resumption l lof. the well bore. 'It will ,be apparentthatthis is accomlike, 1in -thebpre 7 desirdwith `n.0 'possibility 0f disengagement@ r,the lugs 30-frnmithnt1neve section 17- extended position.

The predeterminedfweight of the drillcollars, core barrel, drill bit'andtsafety joint below the slip joint can beutilized to an advantage by a driller according to the `Variations of the formation. In utilizing this predetermined weight in a particular formation, a slight; braking at the surface of the well will maintain the male splines `3() in aneutral spaced Yrelaticin between the shoulders 42 and48 whenin a drive position. .However,.|as the formation loosens up, such as `in a sand or shallow formation, the weight kmay be decreased atthe surface of the well permitting the lug 3() to hang on the upper shoulder =42 iso that the driller may vary the weight ,accordingto the density of the formation.l Of course, as the formation increases in density'or hardness, and additional weight is required, the braking apparatus` at the top of .the well is utilized to increase the weight land Vcause the male spline 30 `to be moved downwardlyto la position slightly above the lower shoulder 48, thereby adding additional Weight overthe predetermined weight as is desired.

The apertures 82 are provided to receive circulating drilling fluid normally utilized duringthe .drilling opera- Ation of the tool for the removal of cuttings. lIt willbe apparentthat an upward movement ofthe piston por- .tion 79 .of the .clutchl dog 7 8 will. displace any fluidthat Ypasses through aperture k,82 into the interior .of .housing 19. Thevtubularstem 62 provides forufluid circulation longitudinally through the nentire unit so that fluid may be circulated from the drilling unit into the annulus be'- tween thedrill lcollarsand the wellbore.V Thepacking glands 66, 72 and 75 (Fig.` 1A) prevent lluid from circulating back into th'eunit `and' also prevent fluid that Y-drill collars through the apertures 8 2 .will eiect a hy- V.drostatic head within the chamber 87 oftheihousing 1 9 to assist in preventing pipecollapse under conditions of lextreme pressures caused `by increased Well depths.

c n will beapparent that the unit 5 providesfor iluid circulation, downwardly through the, annular space 86 between the ydrill collar andthe well bore land upward .through the .stem 62 or vice versa.

From the .foregoing,fit willhev apparent ,thatthe present ,invention 5 contemplates y a t slip .joint assembly which permits .the` insertion of an additionalsection of .pipe in the drill strmgwithout removal ofthe drillbit.- olf the bottom plished by atelescopic type of. s lip` jointhavingua `clutch apparatus of `male and lfemale `splines .of limited length,

thereby I iecessitatting a 'continuous feed .of the rotating densities, which iscornmunicated tothe drill bit. Furthermore, the slip ljoint contemplates a predetermined weight which may be easily calculated to assure speed of rotation for the drill complementary to the speed of penetration of the drill bit to assure that there is an eicient feeding of the kelly relative to the clutch splines and there will be a limited drilling oif because shoulder 42, by virtue of its contact with the upper end of clutch 30, prevents the deeper penetration of the drill bit and core barrel and drill collars, unless there is a feeding off of weight at the Kelly joint. In addition, the slip joint assembly is locked during lowering of the drill string into the well bore to prevent telescopic spreading thereof. The locking means are assisted by a latching member for maintaining the slip joint in assembled condition. The

` invention also contemplates anovel arrangement for providing a hydrostatic head of circulating drilling uid within the unit to prevent pipe collapse at extreme pressures, yet vsealing the drilling fluid from the operating clutch mechanism of the unit.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings,I it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention rnay be made within the vscope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In la slip joint adapted to be interposed in adrill string including a bit for utilization in a well bore, and comprising a sectional housing, a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs disposed on the inner periphery of the housing, a tubular member slidably disposed within the housing and having a plurality of substantially U- shaped grooves circumferentially disposed thereon and providing an upper horizontally disposed shoulder and spaced vertical shoulders, said -U-shaped grooves adapted to cooperate with the lugs for providing slidable movement therebetween, said lugs and grooves in one position relative to each other permitting the insertion of an additional section of drill pipe without raising the bit off the bottom of the well bore, and in another position permitting simultaneous rotative movement between the housing and the tubular member, latching means to prevent accidental disengagement of the two members, and clutch means provided on the tubular member and cooperating with clutch -means carried by the drill string below the tubular member whereby rotative movement may be provided in the drill string during ldisengagement of the slip joint.

2 In a telescopic drill joint adapted to be interposed in a drill string including a bit for utilization in a well bore, means providing uid circulation through the string, lsaid drill joint comprising a sectional housing having an upper portion provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs disposed on the inner periphery thereof, a lower tubular member slidably rdisposed within the housing and provided with a plurality of substantially U- shaped groove'portions circumferentially disposed on the tubular member, said `U-shaped grooves provided with an upper horizontally disposed shoulder portion having longitudinally depending leg members extending therefromproviding spaced rvertical shoulders, a slotted portion provided between the outer extremities of the vertical shoulder portions, said lugs responsive to longitudinal and rotative movement of the drill string to permit alternate positions of driving contact and disengagement of the upper portion of the housing with the tubular member whereby said lugs in one position relative to the tubular member permitting opening of the joint for insertion of additional sections of drill pipe without raising v the bit oif the bottom of the well and in another position permitting simultaneous rotative movement between the housing and the tubular member, latching means provided on the lower housing cooperating with notches provided on .the upper housing to prevent disengagement of the drill joint during lowering of the drillstring.

3. In combination with a `drilling string having a bit i and a telescopic drilljoint adapted `to be disposed in a 'well bore, said drill joint comprising a sectional housing vhaving lan upper portion provi-ded with a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs on theinner periphery thereof, a lowerhousing portion providing a tubular member slidably disposed within the upper portion, means pro- --vided on the tubular member and cooperating Iwith the lugs to permit alternate positions of driving contactand disengagement of the upper portion of the housing with the tubular member, and clutch lugs provided on the tubular member and cooperating with clutch means carried by the drill string below the tubular member whereby rotative movement may be provided in the drill string during disengagement of the drill joint.l e

4. A telescoping drill joint for 1a drill lstringrin a'wcll bore comprising an upper housing, a lower housing having a tubular extension adapted to telescope into the upper housing, means provided on the upper yhousing and the tubular extension for alternately connecting and disconnecting the housings, tubular means disposed'in the string and extending in spaced relation 'through the drill joint to provide fluid circulation to the bottom of the well bore, clutch means cooperating between the tubular means and the lower housing whereby rotative movement may be provided in the drill string during disengagement of the drill joint, and means yin thelower housing for directing uid from the well bore into the lower housing between the tubular means to provide a hydrostatic column of liuid therein for substantially precluding collapse thereof by increased pressures.

5. A telescoping drill joint for-a drill string in a well bore comprising an upper housing, a lower housing having a tubular extension adapted to telescope in the upper housing, means provided on the upper housing andthe tubular extension for alternately connecting and disconnecting the housings, tubular means `disposed in the string and extending in spaced relation through the drill joint to provide iiuid circulation to the bottom of the well bore, means in the lower housing for directing fluid from the well bore into the lower housing .between .the tubular means to provide a hydrostatic column of fluid therein for substantially precluding collapse thereof by increased pressures, clutch means cooperating ybetween the tubular means and the lower housing wherebyrotative movement may be provided in the drill string during .disengagement of the drill joint, and means to displace the viluid from the lower housing during a disconnected position of the drill joint. y

References Cited in the iile of this patent x UNITED STATES PATENTS Le Grand June 18, 1895 

